There were no adults around when the four-year old approached the dog.

The six-year old beagle, lab and duck toller mix named Stormy was tied in its own yard.

When the child crouched down to visit, the dog bit the child in the face. The child suffered bruising and puncture wounds from the attack.

The mother of the child, Shirley Oikle, took her son to the emergency department where he was treated.

Oikle said she had been standing in her backyard two doors down when she lost sight of her son. It was in those moments the dog attacked.

The bylaw enforcement officer took the dog from the home and as per custom it was held for 10 days to see if the dog was rabid. According to its bylaws, the municipality could at day 14 destroy the dog.

What the municipality realized soon after taking the dog was that she was pregnant and due any day.

She has since had her puppies while in captivity.

According to Silvia Jay, a dog behaviour specialist from Nova Scotia, this could be a mitigating factor in the attack.

“If she never has bitten before or showed aggression, the bite could have been circumstantial,” she said. She said the hormones from the pregnancy could have played a part but without seeing what actually happened it would be difficult to determine.

The SPCA manager in Yarmouth, Carol Denomme said the pregnancy of the dog could have been a factor.

“The dog was older at six years and pregnant for the first time,” she said. “There was no one around, the dog could have been growling and giving out warning signs but children don’t listen to warnings,” she said.

But she did admit even a pregnant dog should have walked away rather than attack.

“We don’t know if the child fell on the dog and she was protecting her puppies,” she said.

The family of the dog is upset and wants their dog back.

“I felt really bad when it happened,” said Claire Brown. “She has never been in trouble before it was totally out of character.”

She said she didn’t even know there was a child visiting in her yard.

They have searched the bylaws and are attempting to get the dog back before it is destroyed.

Within the municipal bylaw there is a stipulation stating a long list of requirements if owning a dangerous dog.

Brown’s children have been building an enclosure, posting signs and the family has been doing their best to check off all that needs to be done to keep their dog.

But Shelburne Municipal CAO, Kirk Cox said even that if they complete all the requirements they still might not have their dog returned.

“Yes, (these) conditions would be irrelevant if the dog was deemed a considerable danger,” said Cox.

“Next week things will be more clear,” he said. “But for now we know of the incident, we have met with both parties, we are assessing and trying to determine the facts…but our by-law is clear about our options…return the dog with conditions or put it down.”

Denomme said she believes the SPCA would have approached the situation differently.

“A dangerous dog is a heavy label,” she said. “I don’t think I would have removed the dog from the family. I can’t say to Shelburne you’re doing this wrong but I think they are.”

She thinks the dog should be reassessed after the puppies are weaned and even offered a kennel at the Yarmouth SPCA to house the dog and when born, her puppies.

“The bylaws are in place to protect the people not the dogs and I understand,” she said. “It’s a bit of a you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.”

Brown and her children have been visiting their dog outside the fence of the municipal compound, where their pet is being held and said she is disgusted by the conditions the dog is being kept.

“There is pee and feces all around and her bowl is empty every time I go …it is not the conditions (she) should be kept in.”

She said she has all of the conditions met and is waiting for the municipality to get back to her whether she can have her dog back.

“I'm upset I just want to make sure all the pups are nursing properly I've done everything I can and still feel like I'm fighting them,” she said.

“We want to get the dog back,” she said. “It’s the kids’ pet.”

But the family of the four-year-old who was bitten is very upset about the entire situation and wants the dog put down.

“It’s a safety measure any parent would take,” said Shirley Oikle. “I don’t care if the dog was pregnant …an aggressive dog is an aggressive dog whether pregnant or not.”

She said she doesn’t understand why Brown wouldn’t have warned nearby parents that her dog was pregnant and potentially a threat.

“Now I just feel total disgust,” she said. She said her son was devastated an animal would hurt him.

Comments

Comments

Your name*Email*Comment*

Recent comments

Allegra Ashley

June 01, 2014 - 01:13

Why the hell were there "no adults around"? Why wasn't Shirley Oikle watching her kid instead of letting him trespass in someone else's yard? Why didn't Shirley Oikle teach her kid to stay off of other people's property and not touch other people's pets? Why does the poor dog have to die because of a negligent mother? If Shirley Oikle has a shred of shame or human decency, she will drop the charges because it is ALL HER FAULT.

This reminds me of when you see the mothers on TV bawling as their son is led into court by the sheriffs "he didn't do it, he is such a good boy!, It's the other persons fault!". Imagine... "they should tell their neighbours their dog is pregnant"... ummm maybe you should tell your neighbours that you don't keep an eye on your kid! A beagle lab mix... hardly an aggressive dog. You know what they call dogs in heat right lady?

Shame on you Shirley Oikle! Your failure to keep an eye on your kid led to his injury! That poor dog was in her yard. How is this her fault? It's not! My opinion, even she is and aggressive dog, it shouldn't matter one little bit!!! She was where she was supposed to be with no where else to go. And since nobody was there to see if she was warning your son or if he was doing something mean to her, it isn't fair to take somebody's pet away from them or to kill her for your mistake.

Sounds like this unfit mother is pointing fingers to blame to distract the fact that she's unfit!!.. Why wasn't she watching her kid?..what if the kid was attacked by a wild animal like a coyote?..then who will she blame..own up to your own mistake and stop acting like your some concerned parent...you should have been watching your kid and I have no pity for your son either lesson learned sonny boy don't be creeping on private property! FREE this innocent dog!!!

“It’s a safety measure any parent would take,” said Shirley Oikle. “I don’t care if the dog was pregnant …an aggressive dog is an aggressive dog whether pregnant or not.”
A bad mother is a bad mother , next time it probably won't be a dog, May be a car, but im sure you'll find some other sort of excuse of how it wasn't your fault your 4 year old was roaming around , without an supervision. I hope this sets grounds for you to be evaluated to be deemed a fit mother. Your excuses are petty.

This is all your fault not the child nor the dogs fault, it is your responsibility to be taking care of your child, your suposed to be watching him, you should know children that young WILL wonder off, it's up to you to keep watch and tell him no, you should be teaching him what's right from wrong, that could have been anyone's dog ! Your lucky the dog was not vicious! If could have been 10 times more worse then that! Your child trespassed into and unfamiliar yard and went and more then likely grabbed an unfamiliar dogs fur, which probably hurt her so she reacted to it, this dog should not be put down what
So ever !! Save stormy ! No family of a dog should have to be put in this situation! Take more care of your kids people! U can't even look away for a second or their gone ! If u wanna look away ,pick then up? Put them in the house! Our in a baby gate or something ! A lot more safer then just letting then wander unsupervised !!

I think the parent should keep a better watch on her kids the dog was doing what if felt was right protecting itself who know kids that age have the idea that pulling the dogs ears or fur is funny they sometimes don't know any better because the parents don't correct themthe dog is a family pet if you kept a better eye on your kids like you should this would not happen

HOLD ON NOW.....This little dog was only protecting herself & her pups, while being in her own back yard. The parent of the 4 yr old should be held responsible for her own child. That child should have not been in the dog's yard to begin with. That dog and her pups should be given back to her owner. Provisions need to be put in place to protect a dog who is on their own property. As I say, Stay off my property!! Shame, shame shame on the kid's mother for not knowing where her child was!! PROTECT THIS DOG!!!!!!!!

OK...we have all of these rules and regulations to own a dog. Well what about the unspoken rules about being a parent ? The dog's owner's had the dog tethered on THEIR property ! The parents of the child should not have let the child anywhere near the dog...period ! The parents should be feeling guilty that they let their 4 year old boy ( and god knows boys don't get into trouble on their own..ha) wander around the neighbourhood without adult supervision. Give the dog back to it's owners and give the parents a fine for bad parenting decisions !

Shirley you sure sound selfish and inconsiderate. Also someone who can't accept responsibility for this entire situation! Why was your 4 year old wondering in other peoples private property? Children aid should be notified on your parenting! Stop tormenting this family by dragging this on! You know your at fault here and I have no pity for your kid! It was just a scratch suck it up and move on lesson learned now teach your kid not to be treapassing!!!

The mother of the child is solely at fault in this case. It will be a great injustice if this dog is put down. It cannot be concluded that the mother of the child is a "neglectful" parent, however, in this cercumstance, her neglect led to this occurance. The child did what a unsupervised children do by exploring and investigating, and unfortuantely wandered onto an area inhabited by a pregnant animal. The dog in this case had no options, it was confined by a tether in a designated area for the dog. The dog was not able to get away and alternatively had no where to go as it was at the dogs home that this occurred. The mother of the child has a right to want her child to be protected, however, in this case it was her fault that the child was not protected, not the animals.

See..now I have a problem with this dog being euthanized...if she was tied in her own yard, and the little boy wandered away from his mother..why destroy the dog...and especially if she was pregnant with puppies...she's bound to be protective...I feel bad for the boys injuries, but he should not have been near the dog...sad situation..but I don't believe the dog and her owners should be punished.

While I have a problem knowing that a child has been bitten by a dog, I am not so judgmental as to think that perhaps the child's own actions did not cause this situation. Certainly the dogs pregnancy came into play here, that dog did not know the child, or its intent, and we do not know what the child did to cause the bite. I do think the bite was a warning, if this dog was vicious she could have very seriously harmed the child. I think the child got a warning. I think the mother needs to stand in front of her own mirror and then point the finger of blame. Her child is her responsibility as well as the child's where about. The dog owners sound like lovely, caring,and responsible pet owners, their dog was tethered in their own yard, not roaming freely. If the dog was a danger to anyone, it certainly would have made this known in its six year life span. However unfortunate this situation is, the dog should not be made to suffer, nor the dog owners, the mother of the child however, needs to accept responsibility for what happened to her child. The dog was safe. Your child was not.

While I have a problem knowing that a child has been bitten by a dog, I am not so judgmental as to think that perhaps the child's own actions did not cause this situation. Certainly the dogs pregnancy came into play here, that dog did not know the child, or its intent, and we do not know what the child did to cause the bite. I do think the bite was a warning, if this dog was vicious she could have very seriously harmed the child. I think the child got a warning. I think the mother needs to stand in front of her own mirror and then point the finger of blame. Her child is her responsibility as well as the child's where about. The dog owners sound like lovely, caring,and responsible pet owners, their dog was tethered in their own yard, not roaming freely. If the dog was a danger to anyone, it certainly would have made this known in its six year life span. However unfortunate this situation is, the dog should not be made to suffer, nor the dog owners, the mother of the child however, needs to accept responsibility for what happened to her child. The dog was safe. Your child was not.

All I can say is you should of be looking after your kid, it's not the dogs fault that your child went in someone's yard. I think it's more the parents fault then the dogs fault. I agree 100 % with all the other comments on this story. I don't think the dog should be put down, he was in his own yard, it's not like he was running the roads.

Shirley oickle you should have been watching your dam kid!!! And teach the. Not to be going unto other pplz property!..you say you don't understand why the dog owner didn't warn ppl that there dog was pregnant and possible a threat?? Well did you warn the neighbours that your son is snooping on other pplz property!!!! For Claire...I hope and pray you get your innocent dog back...your not at fault here nor is your dog...you shouldn't have to justify why some witless parent didn't raise there kid to not go on other pplz property....your dog was tied up!

I hate negative animal stories, but they happen everyday. This dog should live. Otherwise, Mrs. Oikle should be charged with child neglect and a four year old for trespassing. If the child was in the front yard, the mother lost sight, and he crossed a busy street she would be. The dog was tied in its own yard, defending its self & its property and the injury looks more like a nip then a bite. Beagle breeds are some of the best for children. They nip as their warning instead of biting. But the Browns could have installed a fence around their yard, but one around the Oikles would have solved this problem. Save Stormy!

The dog was tied up in its own back yard. It was the 4 year old child who entered the dogs territory and did not know the warning signs the dog was probably doing. People need to keep an eye on their children, especially if they know that there is a dog 2 doors down and you lose sight of your child. That child was trespassing in the dog's yard.